7 Man Football Mechanics Basic Mechanics, Keys and Responsibilities for a Crew of 7 Focus on R & U 2017 DFOA Regional Clinic Joel Williams & Kenji Mitchell

Why use seven officials? A crew of 7 will provide more consistent, area coverage resulting in: Better detection and enforcement of rules which are designed to protect safety of players Better detection of rules infractions which would otherwise give one team an unfair advantage Better side line control Preventive officiating is improved Dead ball and back side officiating is improved 7 man

Alabama High School Athletic Association SJ 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 U BJ X X R 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 LJ FJ Alabama High School Athletic Association Press Box

Communication 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 L SJ U BJ R LJ X X R 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 LJ FJ Press Box

Improved Communications Substitutions Snap inside the 7-yard line Sideline pass reception – possession and feet End line pass reception – possession and feet Close goal line plays Intentional Grounding & Illegal Forward Pass Passes over middle (U can help) Ball Mechanics Clock Coverage Penalty Enforcement Substitutions will be more important in the future. Goal lines on long runs IG. Don’t have to move downfield as fast. Talk about IFP mechanics. H&L will have S&J to help Clock – Everyone 2 more officials on the “committee” 7 Man

Positions During Kickoffs Crew of 7 SJ H 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 R U will be the same, but R will have different keys. 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 BJ FJ LJ Press Box 7 Man

Positions During Obvious Short Kickoffs Crew of 7 HL SJ 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 R What are everyone’s responsibilities? 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 BJ LJ FJ Press Box 7 Man

Pre-snap (Initial) Keys Referee – Subs? 14 yards off the ball. Slotted depending on where ball is snapped. QB Passing arm side. Key is on far side tackle. Know the yard line where ball is snapped from. Count Offense. (I count 6 non-lineman) mechanic on ><? Umpire – Subs? Positioning. Key on Guard/center/guard and tackle on referee side. Count Offense. (Count of 5) Know who is restricted for BBW. Illegal Snap. Defensive signals. 7 man

Responsibilities during the Down Referee – Observe actions and illegal acts by or against QB and far side tackle. Pass-Forward? QB cross LOS? Don’t give up on QB. Umpire – Inside run..POA. “Back Side” action. What is holding? Double team. Chop Blocks. Whistle? (No!) Pass…. All – Don’t go to ball mechanics too soon. Make sure players separate. SUBS!! 7 man

Responsibilities After the Down Referee – Don’t be too quick to take your eyes off trouble spots. Stay back. No reason to rush to LOS. Start looking for subs from the Offense. Work ball in if needed. Umpire – Patience. Dead Ball officiate. Be Vocal. Spotting the ball. Communicate with center. Eye contact with R. All – Don’t go to ball mechanics too soon. Make sure players separate. SUBS!!

Basic Positions For Snaps Between the 20 Yard Line and the 5 Yard Line Crew of 7 SJ H 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 U BJ R S&F on Goal line. B on back line. 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 FJ LJ Press Box 7 man

Basic Positions For Snaps Inside the 5 Yard Line Crew of 7 SJ H 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 U BJ R H makes the call 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 FJ LJ Press Box 7 Man

Basic Positions For Punts Crew of 7 L SJ 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 R BJ U 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 FJ LJ Press Box 7 man

Basic Positions For Kick Trys and Field Goals Crew of 7 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 SJ BJ FJ U R 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 LJ Press Box 7 man

Keys and Responsibilities Seven officials, 22 players, one football and nonplayers on each sideline Keys are intended to help determine officiating coverage requirements at the snap Keys include: Formations and players Position of ball on the field Down and distance We shouldn’t miss anything Downs-get box man to help. 7 man

Officiate “Man-Zone-Ball” “MAN” - Before the snap, identify and read your key(s) and note initial actions on and by key(s) “ZONE” - After the snap, officiate player action in your zone “BALL” - When direction of ball has been established (pass or run), officiate at and around the ball if in your zone; otherwise, back side officiating. When the ball is dead, continue to officiate your zone (dead ball officiating) 7 man